For the second year in succession, Merseyrail has been officially declared to be the UK’s most family-friendly train operator.

The recognition came from a scorecard published by the Campaign for Family-Friendly Trains, which assessed 23 train operators across the country. Merseyrail achieved a score of 8 out of 10, which was higher than any other operator.

Operators were evaluated against ten key criteria, including station accessibility, on-board facilities, support services, and the availability of accurate and helpful information for families.

With its comprehensive approach to family-friendly travel, Merseyrail excelled, gaining full marks for both dedicated buggy spaces with nearby seating and level boarding between train and platform across its entire network. No other operator achieved full marks for either of these criteria.

The recognition is particularly welcome, with leisure travel continuing to be the predominant reason for rail usage. According to recent government data, leisure travel now accounts for 54% of all train journeys. A significant portion of leisure travel is by families, which is reflected in Merseyrail’s performance, showing a strategic commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its customers.

In June, Merseyrail gained the highest overall customer satisfaction rating in the latest Transport Focus Rail User Survey, and in 2023, Merseyrail shared the award with London North Eastern Railway as the best UK train operators for families travelling with young children.

“We’re proud that Merseyrail has once again been recognised as the UK’s most family-friendly railway. This underlines our commitment to ensuring we deliver services that make everyday journeys easier, safer and more inclusive for families. From level boarding to dedicated buggy spaces and tailored support at every station, we’re focused on delivering a network that meets the needs of our customers and is at the heart of the communities we serve.”

Neil Grabham, Managing Director of Merseyrail